Air-brake lever mechanism



' Jan. 8, 1929.

A. B. REAM AIR BRAKE LEVER MECHANISM Filed April 5, 1928 INVENTOR ANGSTADT B. REAM Wfi ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNITED ANGSTADTB. BEAM, or ELIZABETHTOWN, rENNsYLvAnIA,

AIR-BRAKE LEVER MECHANISM.

Application filed-April 3,

This invention relates to lever mechanisms for air brakes used on railway cars, automobiles and other vehicles/the object being to provide a construction wherein a maximum leverage is secured with a minimum use of air.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lever mechanism for brakes wherein a cushioned effect is given the braking action. A still further object, morespecifically, is to provide a lever mechanism for brakes wherein small bore air cylinders may be used with either the same or a longer stroke.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary topplan view of a brake mechanism disclosing an embodiment of the" invention, the same being shown in connection with part of a railway car Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the parts in a partly operated or partly braking position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the partsmoved to their extreme braking position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure 1 approximately on the line 44.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a stationary part of a railway car and 2 a bracket bolted or otherwise secured thereto. This bracket is provided with an extending ear 3 which is. straddled by the double plate lever 4, said lever being pivotally connected thereto by a pin 5. The double plate lever 4 at the opposite end to the pin 5 carries a pin or bar 6 on which are mounted two plates 7 each plate having .apertures 8 and 9 accommodating respective ends 10 of the respective springs 11. The opposite ends of the springs 11 are inter locked with plates 12 pivotally mounted on a pin or bar 13 extending preferably through themain brake lever 14. This brake lever is pivotally mounted on the ear 15 by pin 16. Ear 15 is connected with a plate 17 bolted or otherwise secured to some stationary part of the car 1. The outer or free end of the lever 14 is provided with a pin 18 which pivotally connects link 19 with lever 14. the usual brake link connected directly with the brake levers. Heretofore the air oper ated piston rod was connected directly to lever 14 for causing a proper pull. on the link 19. In the present construction, however, the air brake cylinder 20 operates the usual piston rod 21 which is pivotally connected to Link 19 is 1928. Serial No. 267,103.

the lever 14 centrally thereof a pin 22. If

desired, pin 22could be arranged not only at a central point between pins 5 and 6, but could be arranged near either pin at the side. As shown in the drawing, pin 22 is slightly nearer pin 5 than pin 6, whereby a greater throw is'given. As illustrated in Figure 4, two sets of springs 11 are presented. This is not always necessary but is preferable as it balances the various parts and produces even strain when the parts are functioning. When the brake is being applied and the piston rod 20 is functioning,'it will swing lever 4 r in the position shown in Figure 2 and finally tothe position shown in Figure 3, which is the extreme operated position. Asthe lever 4 swings in this manner tension is applied to the various springs 11 and they transmit the pulling action .to the lever 14 through pin 13 so that the link 19 is operated in the usual manner, except that the springs give a cushioned efiect. This action also'produces an increasedleverage action by reason of the arrangement and respective location of the various pivot pins and the distance moved by piston rod 21. I By the use of springs 11 not only is the link 19 pulled in a comparatively resilient manner, but is released in the same manner so that the brakes are not only applied in' a more or less yielding way but are released in the same manner. This will prevent jerks and jars either in applying or releasing the brake, while at the same time presenting a structure which produces the desired braking action with a minimum amount of air. Where the device is used on automobiles or other similar vehicles, the cylinder 20 could be used or eliminated. If the cylinder 20 is eliminated, the piston rod 20 would be providedwith a foot pedal so that this rod could be actuated by the foot and the power transmitted through the levers, as just del I ins lever whereby, when said thrust rod is moved longitudinally, all of said levers will be swung and power will be transmitted to said main brake lever for swinging the sameinto braking position.

2. An air brake lever mechanism, including a main brake lever having a fixed pivot point at one end, a swinging linkmechanism pivotally connected to said main brake lever between the ends thereof, a multiplying lever having one end moving around a fixed pivot and the other end pivotally connected to the opposite end of said swinging link mechanism, and a power-supplying member pivotally connected to said multiplying lever between the ends thereof.

4:. An air brake lever mechanism, including a pair-of oppositely swinging levers, a

spring-connecting link for said levers, and

power means for actuating one of said levers.

5. An air brake lever mechanism, includ ing a main brake lever, an'auxiliary brake lever, a spring structure connected with the free end of the auxiliary brake lever and substantially the center of the main brake level, and power means acting on said auxiliary brake lever intermediate theends for swinging the same in one direction.

6. An air brake lever mechanism, including a main brake lever, a plurality of springs pivotally connected with said main brake lever between the ends thereof, an auxiliary brake lever having one end pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said'springs, means for pivot-ally mounting one end of said auxiliary lever so that it will swing around a fixed point, and power means pivotally connected with said auxiliary lever, said connection being between "the ends' thereof,

whereby as the auxiliary lever is swung on its fixed pivot said spring will be brought under tension and the tension will be trans- 

